<![CDATA[Unlocking Autism: Behind the Diagnosis]]>Unlocking Autism: Behind the Diagnosis goes beyond the diagnostic criteria to explore the real stories, experiences, and people behind an autism diagnosis.

Hosted by Dr. Karen Sheridan, a clinical psychologist, doctorate-level behavior analyst, and owner of Access Autism Testing & Consultation (AATC). She has more than 20 years of experience working with autistic individuals, the podcast brings together personal stories, professional insight, and honest conversations about what autism can look like across the lifespan.

Each episode explores the journey toward understanding autism—from the first clues that something felt different, through the search for answers and the diagnostic process, to the ways a diagnosis can reshape identity, relationships, parenting, work, and everyday life.

You’ll hear from autistic adults and parents of children with autism whose experiences challenge stereotypes and show just how diverse the autism spectrum really is.

Because autism is more than a diagnosis. Behind every diagnosis is a person, a story, and a journey toward understanding.

Unlocking Autism: Behind the Diagnosis — finding the person behind the label.

]]>https://www.accessautismtesting.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Tue, 10 Nov 2026 09:24:40 GMTTue, 06 Oct 2026 15:21:50 GMT60Karen Sheridan<p><b><strong>Unlocking Autism: Behind the Diagnosis</strong></b> goes beyond the diagnostic criteria to explore the real stories, experiences, and people behind an autism diagnosis.</p><p>Hosted by Dr. Karen Sheridan, a clinical psychologist, doctorate-level behavior analyst, and owner of Access Autism Testing &amp; Consultation (AATC). She has more than 20 years of experience working with autistic individuals, the podcast brings together personal stories, professional insight, and honest conversations about what autism can look like across the lifespan.</p><p>Each episode explores the journey toward understanding autism—from the first clues that something felt different, through the search for answers and the diagnostic process, to the ways a diagnosis can reshape identity, relationships, parenting, work, and everyday life.</p><p>You’ll hear from autistic adults and parents of children with autism whose experiences challenge stereotypes and show just how diverse the autism spectrum really is.</p><p>Because autism is more than a diagnosis. Behind every diagnosis is a person, a story, and a journey toward understanding.</p><p><b><strong>Unlocking Autism: Behind the Diagnosis — finding the person behind the label.</strong></b></p>episodicKaren Sheridanksheridan917@gmail.comno<![CDATA[The Cost of Camouflaging]]>The Cost of Camouflaging

What happens when you've spent your entire life trying to fit in, only to discover that the effort of appearing "normal" has come at a significant cost?

In this episode of Unlocking Autism: Behind the Diagnosis, Dr. Karen Sheridan sits down with Amanda Morris, a late-diagnosed AuDHD woman, to explore the hidden toll of autistic masking, the reality of autistic burnout, and the journey toward recovery and self-acceptance.

Amanda shares her experiences navigating life before receiving her autism and ADHD diagnoses, the emotional and physical exhaustion associated with years of camouflaging, and what it means to begin rebuilding a life that honors her authentic self.

Together, they explore the challenges of recognizing burnout, learning to unmask, establishing boundaries, and redefining success and well-being after a late diagnosis.

This episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most important part of receiving a diagnosis isn't discovering who you are—it's finally giving yourself permission to be that person.

Whether you're newly diagnosed, questioning your own neurodivergence, or supporting someone on their journey, Amanda's story offers insight, validation, and hope for life beyond burnout.

Amanda's website: https://amandamorristherapy.com

@accessautism on Youtube

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@accessautismtesting on Insta

@accessautismtesting&consultation on Facebook

@accessautismtesting on Pinterest

]]>https://www.accessautismtesting.com/unlocking-autismee44393e-eef3-4c13-8d48-630f55d80324Tue, 03 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT<p><b><strong>The Cost of Camouflaging</strong></b></p><p>What happens when you've spent your entire life trying to fit in, only to discover that the effort of appearing "normal" has come at a significant cost?</p><p>In this episode of <i><em>Unlocking Autism: Behind the Diagnosis</em></i>, Dr. Karen Sheridan sits down with Amanda Morris, a late-diagnosed AuDHD woman, to explore the hidden toll of autistic masking, the reality of autistic burnout, and the journey toward recovery and self-acceptance.</p><p>Amanda shares her experiences navigating life before receiving her autism and ADHD diagnoses, the emotional and physical exhaustion associated with years of camouflaging, and what it means to begin rebuilding a life that honors her authentic self.</p><p>Together, they explore the challenges of recognizing burnout, learning to unmask, establishing boundaries, and redefining success and well-being after a late diagnosis.</p><p><b><strong>This episode is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most important part of receiving a diagnosis isn't discovering who you are—it's finally giving yourself permission to be that person.</strong></b></p><p>Whether you're newly diagnosed, questioning your own neurodivergence, or supporting someone on their journey, Amanda's story offers insight, validation, and hope for life beyond burnout. </p><p>Amanda's website: <a href="https://amandamorristherapy.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://amandamorristherapy.com</a></p><p>@accessautism on Youtube</p><p>@accessautism on Tiktok</p><p>@accessautismtesting on Insta</p><p>@accessautismtesting&amp;consultation on Facebook</p><p>@accessautismtesting on Pinterest</p>no00:43:5813The Cost of Camouflagingfull<![CDATA[Letting Go of Expectations]]>In this episode of Unlocking Autism: Behind the Diagnosis, I sit down with Charity Chaffee, a mother of two autistic children, to explore how her parenting journey has transformed the way she views expectations, acceptance, and what truly matters.

Charity shares how raising her children has taught her to let go of other people's expectations and embrace a life that doesn't have to fit society's definition of "normal."

Together, we explore the lessons that come from challenging traditional expectations of parenting, learning to trust your own path, and finding freedom in letting go of what others think.

Follow us at

@accessautism on Youtube

@accessautism on Tiktok

@accessautismtesting on Insta

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@accessautismtesting on Pinterest

]]>https://www.accessautismtesting.com/unlocking-autism2abc4f1c-dae5-4604-9732-475e284091aaTue, 20 Oct 2026 19:03:53 GMT<p>In this episode of <i><em>Unlocking Autism: Behind the Diagnosis</em></i>, I sit down with Charity Chaffee, a mother of two autistic children, to explore how her parenting journey has transformed the way she views expectations, acceptance, and what truly matters.</p><p>Charity shares how raising her children has taught her to let go of other people's expectations and embrace a life that doesn't have to fit society's definition of "normal."</p><p>Together, we explore the lessons that come from challenging traditional expectations of parenting, learning to trust your own path, and finding freedom in letting go of what others think.</p><p>Follow us at</p><p>@accessautism on Youtube</p><p>@accessautism on Tiktok</p><p>@accessautismtesting on Insta</p><p>@accessautismtesting&amp;consultation on Facebook</p><p>@accessautismtesting on Pinterest</p>no00:58:2812Letting Go of Expectationsfull<![CDATA[Becoming a Mother, Finding Herself]]>What happens when becoming a mother leads you to discover something life-changing about yourself?

For Alyssa Deroches, motherhood became the unexpected key to understanding a lifetime of experiences that had never quite made sense. After discovering she was AuDHD—autistic and ADHD—later in life, Alyssa began seeing herself, her past, and her future through an entirely new lens.

In this episode of Unlocking Autism: Behind the Diagnosis, Alyssa shares how her diagnosis transformed not only the way she understood herself, but also the life and career she chose to build.

Follow us at

www.accessautismtesting.com

@accessautism on Youtube

@accessautism on Tiktok

@accessautismtesting on Insta

@accessautismtesting&consultation on Facebook

@accessautismtesting on Pinterest

 

]]>52131b28-074e-43f9-b74f-4690f332a161Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:05:16 GMT<p>What happens when becoming a mother leads you to discover something life-changing about yourself?</p><p>For Alyssa Deroches, motherhood became the unexpected key to understanding a lifetime of experiences that had never quite made sense. After discovering she was AuDHD—autistic and ADHD—later in life, Alyssa began seeing herself, her past, and her future through an entirely new lens.</p><p>In this episode of <i><em>Unlocking Autism: Behind the Diagnosis</em></i>, Alyssa shares how her diagnosis transformed not only the way she understood herself, but also the life and career she chose to build.</p><p>Follow us at</p><p>www.accessautismtesting.com</p><p>@accessautism on Youtube</p><p>@accessautism on Tiktok</p><p>@accessautismtesting on Insta</p><p>@accessautismtesting&amp;consultation on Facebook</p><p>@accessautismtesting on Pinterest</p><p> </p>no00:46:3811Becoming a Mother, Finding Herselffull